The actual scope of the money laundering scandal that rocked Estonian banking was unveiled as a result of the war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia. It became visible how significant the impact of dirty money is on the entire Europe. The play, together with a series of additional events, will attempt to answer two crucial questions. Firstly, what enabled the possibility of such a large-scale money laundering scheme in Europe and secondly, what are its consequences and how to mitigate the negative impact?
The Estonian-Danish production will be performed at Kammivabrik in June 2024. At the centre of the story is a young man from the Tartu suburb of Annelinn who, through connections, lands a job in the foreign banking department of a prestigious bank. The play is authored by Mehis Pihla and directed by Hendrik Toompere Jr. The musical design will be created by the ensemble led by Maria Faust, bringing together some of the best jazz artists from Estonia and Denmark. The production will be multilingual, including Estonian, English, Danish, and Russian. A total of eleven performances will be held, all of which will include English subtitles.
Before the performances, mini-lectures will be held, seeking answers to the question of how to reshape the European economy and politics to prevent illicit money from undermining shared values. We welcome all who are interested, but especially students as they are the shapers of Estonian and Europe’s future. Additionally, video lectures will be produced and made available online.
“Business as Usual” will make everyone think about the kind of Europe we wish to see, and what can be done to bring that image to fruition. Money laundering is not only the “internal matter of the financial system”; its consequences are reflected in our everyday choices. For example, the kinds of companies we choose to support through the consumption of products and services.
